Method of incorporating solid fat in liquid fatty mixtures



Aug. 3, 1-948.

B. s. HARRINGTON 2,445,178 METHOD OF INCORPORATING SOLID FATS v INLIQUID FATTY MIXTURES v Filed Sept. 18, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l FLA/(EHOPPER I ODOR/25R FLA/(E META-R 5L lD/NG CHU TE coou/va a; HOLDING m/vksPatented Aug. 3, 1948 METHOD OF INCORPORATINGSOLID FA T 3 IN LIQUIDFATTYMIXTUBES Bertie S. Harrington, Chicago, 111., assignor' to, Armourand Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationSeptember 18,1942, SerialNo.458,910 l This invention relates to methodsand means for incorporating solid fat in liquid fatty mixtures and dealsparticularly with methods and means for accomplishing this purpose in aconofthe product. A further object is to provide means whereby solid fatis quickly changed to a liquid fat under conditions in which the heatemployed does not adversely affect the product. Yet another object is toprovide a method whereby the heat developed in the exothermic reactionof hydrogenation is utilized in an atmosphere of hydrogen for bringingabout the melting of solid fat without discoloration and without theproduction of undesirable oxidized products.

Also, in systems which are operated in a continuous manner and where theliquid fat flows continuously from one step to another, there has beenno successful way of introducing solid fat into the liquid. It is animportant object of my invention to provide methods and apparatus bywhich this can be done. More specifically, an object is to provide suchmethods and means as will avoid objectionable congealing of the blendedmaterial so that it will move freely and continuously in the system.

The improved process can be carried on in varied forms of apparatus.Advantageously I can use the apparatus shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing apparatusembodying my invention and in which the process hereof may be carriedout; and Fig. 2, an enlarged vertical sectional view of the melting drumemployed.

In view of the fact that most of the apparatus employed in the practiceof the invention is Well known and the operation thereof is common inthe art, a detailed description and showing of the various parts isbelieved unnecessary, a diagrammatic layout being suflicient for theunder-.- standing thereof. In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, convertersIt are shown, from which the hydrogenated oil may be led through line Hto a filter l2. A valved by-pass line 13 may be u ed in the event it isdesired not to pass the oil 6 Claims. (Cl. 260-403) through the filterI2.

c 2 A 1 v Through line l4, the hydrogenated oil passes upwardly and intoa blendingdrum or tank l5 containing solid fat. From the lower portionof the drum l5, melted fat and oilare passed' through lines l6 and I1intoideodorizers l8 and i9. From thedeodorizer l9', the oil passesthrough line into the cooler 2|; and from deodorizer IS the oil passesthrough line 22 into cooler 33. The combined oil from the coolers passesdownwardly through line 24 and is forced by means of pump 25 upwardlythrough the check valve 26 and pipe 2'! top filter 28, from which theremovable catalyst or anyremaining portion thereof is removed. Fromthefilter, the finished oil is drawn away through line 29 to any desiredpoint. r

The hydrogenation converters lllare supplied with the usual means forintroducing hydrogen under pressure and means for supplying heating andcooling fluids about the reaction-chamber. The [heated "oil combinedwith a removable catalyst, such asa nickel catalyst,is introduced in theusual way therein. j r The filter i2 is of;thecontinuousclosed'type andits structure is well knownr Any suitable typeof filter for the removalof the catalyst may be employed. If desired, the'filter l2 may beomitted, and an of the catalyst may be removed in the final filter 28.

In the illustration given, the blending drum l5is provided at its topwithan opelfiing' having a flared threaded" tube portion 30 extendingstantially uniform diameter.

of'the neck 33 is threaded externally and is'reabove the opening. 1 Thethreadedportion 30 reccives a closure plug 3| formin'g anairtight sealfor-the topofthe tank. It is understood that any suitable closu-re meansfor efiecting an airtight closure may be employed. The lower portion ofthe tank or drum l5 has inwardly-extending conical walls 32; terminatingin a neck 33 of sub- The lower portion ceived within 'a fitting34. Thelower opening of the'fitting 34 threadedly engages a packing nut 35through which extends" thefeedpipe 36. The

feedpipe 36 extends upwardly through the fitting 34, the neck 33, andalmost to .the top of the drum l5. The pipe 36 ispreferablyprovided-with a distributor plate 31- supported byspaced pinsdruml5.

38 a short distance above the end pipe 36 and serving to deflect oilevenly'about the interionof The fitting 34 is provided with twolaterallyextendingdrainpip'es I! and lathe pipe l'l 'leading to thedeodorizer l9, and th ipe 16 leading tothedeodorizerlll."1

The deodorizers l8 and [9 need not be described in detail since thesestructures are well known in the art. As usual, the deodorizers areprovided with means (not shown) for producing vacuum, and also, ifdesired, with pipes for circulating a heating fluid therein.Deodorizers, as well as hydrogenation converters, are illustrated indetail in the co-pending applications of Ralph H. Potts and Charles E.Morris, Serial No. 425,248 and Serial No. 427,290, which latterapplication is nowabandoned, both applications being. entitled Treatingedible oils. Cooling tanks, as-indicated by the numerals 2i and 23, arealso shown in detail in the above applications.

If desired, a pressure rele'a'se' Valve 39"may be ,I

placed within a by-pass line 40 extending between the lines 24 and 21. ha

Any suitable means for introducing the solid fat in flaked or othercomminuted fo r'ni maybe employed. In the illustration given in Fig. 1,the flaked fat passes f rornthe hopper 41 through a pi er: a'n'd fromthence through, a sliding chute =13 "which, when lowered, fits about thecollar 36 of drum It, With the closure tlremoved, flaked fat *isadmitted to fill the container, and then the cl'mte is raised to theelevate'd position shownin 'Fig. 1 in which it is latched.

Operation 'In-theopera'tion of the process, a suitable solid fat productis fed-into drum to fill the same to about the level in d'icatedin Fig.2. In the fill- -;i'ng;operation the plug 3| is removed, the chute 43 isdropped to a position about the neck 30 and then flaked fat ispassed-fromthe hopper 4! downwardly and into the drum 15. After filling,the chute 43 is raised andlatched in raised position. The closure 3|;isthen-securedinto positionso as to form an airtight closure. 'Iheevacuating apparatus connectedto the deodorizers I8 and 1-9 theneliminates air from the deodorizers and, by means of the pipeconnections It and I1, the air within thedr-um l5.

The mixed catalyst'and oil,--t ogether withthe introduced hydrogen, arebrought into the hydrogenators wand-the hyd-ro-genationstep carried on*in-the'usual manner, the temperature of oil being raised to aconsiderable extent bytheexothermic reaction. Theheated oil from theconverters is then :passed through line II, either through the filterl2; fort-he removal of thecatalys't or through the by-pass line 13. Theheated oilthe'n passes throug-hline I4 and into the pipe twp-forming acontinuation thereof which extends into the-drum 15. The hot oilis-deflected by "plate-31 was to be distributed upon the flaked -'-fat.*Atthesame time, th drum i5 is fllled with an atmosphere of hydrogencarried'along-as exc'ess by the heated oil.. Under thevacuum em- 7lployed and under the influence of the hydrogen 'perature'well'above-the point at which --it will *congeal. :In'this "waytheblendedmaterial is maintained in liquid condition until it iswithdrawn from the blending chamberandison its way to the deodorizers,and all clogging at the chamber exit is prevented.

In the deodorizers, the undesired volatile products are withdrawn fromthe blended oil, and the finished product passes downwardly throughlines 2!] and 22 into the cooling tanks 2| and 23.

v The cooled oil then is drawn from pipe 24 and forced by pump 25through the final filter 28, from which the catalyst or any remainingtraces thereof are removed. The refined product is withdrawn throughpipe 29 to a. suitable point of recovery.

Temperatur and pressure conditions in the various parts of the apparatusmay vary considerably. In a hydrogenator, the pressure may vary fromZOto75 pounds, at which pressure free hydrogen goes into solution in the oiland remains dissolved therein. The degree of vacuum employed in. thedeodorizers is merely that necessary for the removal of the undesirablevolatile fractions.

As a specific illustrative operation, a batch of cottonseed oil fattyacids is mixed with a nickel catalyst and then pumped into thehydrogenerators. In the converters, the temperature is raised to about300 F. by means of circulating a hot fluid through heating coils, andhydrogen is pumped into the bottom of the tank under pressure. Ifdesired, the product may be mixed-by an agitator. As the temperatureincreases by reason of the exothermic reaction, acooling fluid may beemployed to prevent excessive temperatures. The oil is withdrawn at ahigh temperature to the flake melter or blending drum l5. Passingupwardly through the central pipe '36'the hotoil gives up some of itsheat to the downwardly flowing material in neck 33 so as to maintainthis in liquid form, and then is distributed at the top of pipe 36 ontothe larger body of unblen'ded fat. The blended fat from drum I5 passesto the deodorizers it and it under a vacuum of about 291/ inches ofmercury. If desired, additional heat may be supplied in the deodorizers.The oil from the oleo'dorizers passes through the coolers and finallythrough the filter 28, as already described.

It will be noted that in the foregoing operation, the heat generated bythe exothermic reaction, together with the hydrogen in the oil, isutilized in the flake melter for melting the flakes Without any adversechange therein, air

being excluded by the presence of the hydrogen and'b y the vacuum drawnbymeans of the connections with the deodorizers.

In the foregoing operation, it is found that the blended oil has muchbetter color than heretofore produced and a much improved flavor.'Thetreatment of the oil in the blending drum without exposure to theair undoubtedly improves the color of the oil. The improvedflavor'maybedue "to the-fact that the impurities in theoilare moreeasily removed if kept in the reduced condition (i. e.,'an organicimpurity would be reduced by the hydrogenation and, in this condition,would have a higher vapor pressure and, therefore, is

morevolatile than it would be after being given a chance to-oxidize uponexposure to-ai'r). Whatever be the explanation, it isclearthat'thetr'eating of the flaked fatin the. presence vofhydrogen andin the absence of air, results ina blended product of a much improvedcolor, flavor, and stability.

A very substantial advantage lies'in the'way .the blending operation isconducted sincethe blended fat is passed in-heat transfer relation withthe incoming hot liquid fat so that there is no solidification at theoutlet of the drum and consequently no clogging at this point. Were itnot for this feature, the hot oil would give up its heat as it contactsand melts a portion of the solid fat and then when it reaches the exitthe blended fat would congeal and clog the outlet. The conical bottom ofthe drum and the relatively narrow bottom neck contributes toward theheat transfer relation just described.

The process is extremely simple and economical while resulting in abetter product than has heretofore been obtained with substantially noincrease in expense. The apparatus is compact, simple, and highlyeffective for accomplishing the new functions.

Although the method and apparatus herein described for blending fats isparticularly useful in connection with the system for continuouslyhydrogenating fats,.it is also useful in other connections, and there isno intention to limit the invention to the particular system described.The improved blending method and apparatus also contributes itsadvantages in the prevention of congealment of the blended fat whetheror not the air is excluded therefrom or a vacuum employed.

It is understood that many changes may be made in the manner of carryingout the invention from that specifically described herein, and nothingcontained in this detailed description is intended to take from thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a process for blending solid fat with liquid fat, the steps ofpassing a restricted stream of heated liquid fat through a body of saidsolid fat to melt said solid fat about said stream, passing the heatedfat from said stream into contact with the fat of said body to produceblended fat and separating blended fat from the body of solid fat whilepassing the blended fat in heat transfer relation with said stream tomaintain the blended fat in liquid form.

2 In a process of the character set forth for controlling the hardnessof a hydrogenated fat in a closed system without adding air, the stepsof evacuating a blending chamber containing solid tat, passing hothydrogenated liquid fat in a restricted stream and in an elongated paththrough said fat to melt said fat about said stream and provide adischarge channel in said solid fat, discharging said liquid fat ontosaid solid fat to melt the same and to form a blend therewith, andwithdrawing said blended liquid fat through said discharge channel.

3. In a process for producing a blended fat composition, the steps ofpassing hot liquid fat from a hydrogenation zone to a blending zonecontaining solid fat, passing said liquid fat through said solid fat inthe form of a restricted stream to thereby melt the solid fat about saidstream and to provide a discharge channel in said solid fat, dischargingsaid liquid fat upon the top surface of said solid fat to melt a portionthereof and to form a blend therewith, withdrawing the blended liquidfat through said discharge channel which is constantly kept open by heatexchange relationship with said stream, and passing the blended fat to adeodorizing zone, each of said steps being performed while maintainingthe fats out of contact with air.

4. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said solid fat is in flakeform.

5. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said solid fat is ingranular form.

6. A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said liquid fat ishydrogenated oil.

BERTIE S. HARRINGTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,059,720 Ellis Apr. 22, 19131,404,708 Allbright Jan. 24, 1922 1,587,302 Harrington June 11, 19261,861,721 Scott June '7', 1932 2,123,332 Godfrey July 12, 1938 2,293,729Gudheim Aug. 25, 1942 OTHER REFERENCES American Handbook of Brewing andMelting- Wahl-Henius, vol. 2,. 3d ed., 1908, pages 1030 to

